Laptops & wild camping

[Ian Hulley]

Looking at the options for wild camping ... I know that PCs are really 12volt and have a transformer but the question is ... would you need an inverter to raise 12v DC from the leisure battery to 240v for the laptop to then drop it back to 12v DC again ? OR Do laptops have the facility to plug into your leisure 12v through a regulated power supply.

Cheers, Ian.

[Mocki]

most laptops are 18.5v ish, you can buy a laptop invertor that will "up it" from 12v to 18.5 or a invertor up to 240 then use the power supply to power the lappy.....

both will be turning a goodly deal of your leisure battery power into heat in the process mind.....

[Ian Hulley]

most laptops are 18.5v ish, you can buy a laptop invertor that will "up it" from 12v to 18.5 or a invertor up to 240 then use the power supply to power the lappy.....

both will be turning a goodly deal of your leisure battery power into heat in the process mind.....

Cheers Steve.

[Aidan]

Having seen some 12v adapters in action (cigi socket usually only 10-11v) , and not wanting to potentially damage expensive laptop with a three year warranty, I went for the inverter (500W) route, but then it's for memory map use with the vehicle moving and alternator topping up the battery constantly, static a 12v adapter may be better, less heat waste.
Never managed to get the usb tv thing to work unless plugged into home aerial so don't watch tv or dvds or owt when away. I f I had a dongle I'd be on here, it's good to get away and switch off sometimes.

[Ian Hulley]

Cheers, I'm trying to plan next year's hols and we're getting the girls laptops for Christmas (ssshhhhh !) no-doubt they'll be wanting to take at least 1 of them with us.

What sort of draw is the 12v >18 adaptor ?

Ian.

[Mocki]

it will vary ian, and dont buy the 12v invertor till you have the lappys , not all work all....

i went the 500w invertor way , like Aidan, i didnt like the idea of a chokywong PSU cooking my laptop.
I also bought a new battery for the laptop, which last 4 hours plus,(as long as im not using my long range WiFi card!)
i decided it was better to charge whilst engine running and use laptop battery when engine not running, and hard wired the invertor into the vans leisure electrickery system properly, rather than via a ciggy socket. I can still run the 500w invertor off the leisure battery when the engine isnt running for several hours if i have to, but they are very inefficient.

just remember NEVER EVER leave a invertor unattended whiclst switched on.......

[Ian Hulley]

Thanks for that.

Ian.

[irishkeet]

Ian

If a smaller note book will do I have the Samsung NC10 which has a 5 hour battery life
You can now get the N140 with about 9 hours battery

a bit more info here http://www.sammynetbook.com

cheers
irishkeet

[Ian Hulley]

Ian

If a smaller note book will do I have the Samsung NC10 which has a 5 hour battery life
You can now get the N140 with about 9 hours battery

a bit more info here http://www.sammynetbook.com

cheers
irishkeet

Cheers but we've got to get 2 alike with wifi etc etc

Ian.

[dirtygertie]

I use a fleabay bought laptop cable that runs from the cig adaptor (same sort as this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/In-Car-Laptop-Aut ... 286.c0.m14" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) - you can choose different outputs to suit your computer.
we broused tinternet or watched dvd's on it most nights whist on our jolly's & the leisure battery was fine.

for tinternet, I use an orange wireless dongle - the only place I've not been able to get a decent signal is at the bottom of a tree lined valley in deepest darkest wales

[Mr Bean]

Don't wish to seem picky but should laptop and wild camping be used in the same senternce - which they probably weren't but you get my drift.
Cheers
Wolfie

[skippy1089]

I have been reading this thread title as lapdancing and wild camping , .

Sorry no help at all.

[Louey]

I have been reading this thread title as lapdancing and wild camping , .

Someone had a pole for dancing in their van a few years ago

[Louey]

I might even have a photo or two of some 80-90 members using it. Sadly, with clothes on (or perhaps luckily)

[Ian Hulley]

Don't wish to seem picky but should laptop and wild camping be used in the same senternce - which they probably weren't but you get my drift.
Cheers
Wolfie

If it weren't for the fact we have 2 children you're probably right, however teenagers can only play on the beach with their dad for so long without relapsing into real life.

Besides me and Jackie also enjoy sitting and watching a dvd in an evening with a glass of wine after incinerating some bits of meat.

What are we supposed to do ? Practice our knot tying or polish our shoes ready for the morning ?